March Madness Traditions: Cutting Down the Nets
Posted on 21. Jun, 2010 by admin in March Madness Traditions
Betting enthusiasts betting on the March Madness tournament can now also bet on the various traditions of each school. From pregame rituals to championship winning rituals college basketball wagering is becoming more and more exciting.
There are several different traditions which are followed by fans and one that is followed by every team no matter the school.
Firstly, perhaps the biggest tradition in all of March Madness is the cutting of the nets. After the winning team finishes playing the game, the captain’s of the winning basketball team, usually climbs a ladder, for the basket they were scoring on and cuts the net down. This is a nostalgic moment, as teams since the 1960s UCLA Bruins dynasty have been cutting down the nets. When a team cuts down the net, it is the best souvenir as they know that they have made it as champions.
Some traditions followed by the fans, are brackets, watching the first game, bubble Sunday and the final four. Whether it’s at work or amongst friends, one of the biggest appeals to the March Madness tournament is the bracket pool. Here people pick which teams will come out of the initial divisions and move all the way to the final two teams battling over the championship. The winning prizes for the brackets are usually of monetary value.
Watching the first game of the tournament on the Thursday, aside from the final four, brings in the most viewership as it is the start of the tournament. The final four are the two semifinal matches which also bring in the most viewership, perhaps more so then the championship game. Finally, the Sunday bubble is for 37 teams of at large bids who are vying for the last few spots to get into the March Madness tournament.